Brush head cover system

ABSTRACT

A brush head cover system can involve positioning a cover proximal a brush head and subsequently surrounding the brush head with the cover. The cover is attached to a handle of the brush head with at least one attachment mechanism that continuously applies circumferential pressure onto the cover and handle while a cleaning region of the cover is aligned with a friction surface of the brush head. The cleaning region can be secure in place with at least one alignment feature that continuously applies pressure onto the friction surface to maintain the cleaning region in place relative to the friction surface during a cleaning operation. Detaching the at least one attachment mechanism and at least one alignment feature allows the cover to separate from the brush head.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application makes a claim of domestic priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/248,233 filed Sep. 24, 2021, the contents of which being hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments, a brush head cover system can consist of a unitary body that securely attaches to a brush head to provide a different material than the brush to clean at least one surface. The cover system can utilize one or more attachments mechanisms to allow efficient installation around a brush head as well as secure the cover relative to the brush head while the cover is being used to clean a surface. A brush cover can consist of multiple different materials to provide individual, or concurrent, application of cleaning means onto a surface. The ability to detach the brush cover from a brush head allows the brush cover to be individually cleaned, modified, or altered to provide a diverse array of cleaning configurations that fit a variety of different brush head shapes and sizes.

A brush head cover system, in other embodiments, positions a cover proximal a rigid brush head and subsequently surrounds the brush head with the cover. The cover is attached to a handle of the brush head with at least one attachment mechanism that continuously applies circumferential pressure onto the cover and handle while a cleaning region of the cover is aligned with a friction surface of the brush head. The cleaning region can be secure in place with at least one alignment feature that continuously applies pressure onto the friction surface to maintain the cleaning region in place relative to the friction surface during a cleaning operation. Detaching at least one attachment mechanism and at least one alignment feature allows the cover to separate from the brush head.

These and other features which may characterize various embodiments can be understood in view of the following detailed discussion and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a functional block representation of an example brush environment in which assorted embodiments may be practiced.

FIG. 2 depicts portions of an example brush head configured in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively depict portions of an example brush head cover system constructed and utilized in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4 depicts portions of an example brush head cover system arranged in accordance with assorted embodiments.

FIG. 5 depicts portions of an example brush head cover system configured in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example cleaning routine that can be carried out with the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a brush head cover that employs a secure and efficient attachment mechanism that is both detachable when not in use and secure in maintaining cleaning portions of the cover in place relative to a brush during use.

The cleaning of surfaces has not drastically evolved over the years and generations as one or more materials are forcibly applied to a surface to remove debris and contaminants. While one or more cleaners can be applied to the surface to be cleaned and/or the material utilized for cleaning, it is understood that the interaction of the cleaning material to the surface has the most impact on the effectiveness of the cleaning and the quality of the resulting surface. It is contemplated that an incorrect, or dirty, material can temporarily, or permanently, damage a surface during a cleaning operation. Hence, there is an interest in ensuring a non-harmful and clean material is utilized to clean a surface of debris and contaminants.

Bristled head assemblies have been used for a very long time to clear debris from a surface and or apply cleaners to a surface to facilitate the clearing of stains, residue, and other contaminants that are artificial to the exposed aspects of a surface. However, bristled brushes can trap debris and chemicals that can alter the brush's material configuration and make a brush an abrasive to the surface being cleaned instead of a gentle applicator of cleaners and/or debris clearing interaction. Although bristled brushes can be cleaned and potentially restored to a state that is gentle and non-harmful for some surfaces, it is often difficult to visually or manually determine if a brush will be gentle or abrasive to a surface. Hence, the use of a bristled brush can aid a cleaning operation, but poses challenges to an efficient and non-harmful cleaning of a surface.

For instance, a handled brush head can employ bristles that are configured to gently and efficiently clear debris from an optical surface, such as a vehicle exterior painted surface, window, or plastic shield. Such cleaning may involve applying soap, or other cleaner, to the surface to facilitate clearing any contaminants from the surface. While visual and manual inspection can reveal the brush bristles to be soft, gentle, and non-abrasive, interaction of the brush with a surface can immediately scratch, gouge, and otherwise damage the surface being cleaned. Such damage can be permanent and degrade the optical, and perhaps mechanical, operation of the surface. For example, scratches from a dirty or otherwise abrasive brush can dull an optical surface of a headlight and/or decrease the ability for light to pass through the optical surface without diffraction that impedes the quality of the surface.

Accordingly, various embodiments are directed at means for covering a brush that employs bristles or a planar surface to facilitate the cleaning of one or more surfaces in a safe manner. A brush cover can be part of a system that securely connects the cover to portions of the brush while positioning cleaning portions of the cover in proper position, relative to the underlying brush, to gently and effectively clear debris from a surface and remove some, or all, contaminants from the surface. The brush cover can be temporarily attached to a brush and provide more than one cleaning material to allow the effective, and non-harmful, cleaning of different surfaces or the efficient cleaning of a single surface. The ability to efficiently attach, and remove a brush cover to a cover allows the cover to be individually cleaned, transported, and utilized with brushes of different sizes, materials, and cleaning capabilities.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a block representation of portions of an example brush 100 that can be utilized in according to assorted embodiments. The brush 100 consists of a brush head 102 that can be any shape and size that is conducive to cleaning at least one surface. For instance, the brush head 102 can have a rectangular shape, as shown by solid lines, or a circular shape 104, as shown by segmented lines that allows a cleaning surface of the head 102 to interact and clean a surface, such as a wood, concrete, plastic, metal, or painted surface. The ability to construct the brush head 102 with variable different shapes allows for efficient application of force from a human, or automated robot.

It is contemplated that the brush head 102 is constructed of a rigid, or semi-rigid, material, such as metal, plastic, ceramic, or wood, that allows for efficient transfer of pressure and force from a user to the surface being cleaned. The transfer of energy to the brush head 102 can be facilitated by one or more handles that are configured to provide efficient user manipulation and application of force to the brush head 102. As a non-limiting example, the brush head 102 can have a broomstick 106 that protrudes from the brush head 102 with a fixed, or pivoting, connection, which allows a user to remain upright and separated from the brush head 102 during cleaning. Another non-limiting example involves a grip handle 108 extending from the brush head 102 that can have any configuration, such as a semi-circular, hollow, or solid protrusion, that is arranged to allow efficient gripping, retention, and application of force directly from a user. It can be appreciated that the brush head 102 can employ one, or more handles 106/108 that allow a user to be physically separated from the brush head 102, as with the broomstick handle 106, or physically contacting the brush head 102, as with the grip handle 108.

Various embodiments configure the brush head 102 as a uniformly flat, or curved, article to provide a friction surface opposite the handle/broomstick that efficiently cleans a surface in response to the application of force via one, or more, handles 106/108. The construction of the brush head 102 provides a backing so that a friction surface can interact with, and clean, a surface in response to movement and/or pressure applied to the brush head 102. FIG. 2 depicts portions of an example brush cover 120 configured and utilized in according to some embodiments to present a plurality of bristles 122 extending from a friction surface of the brush head 102. It is noted that the brush head 102 concurrently employs a broomstick handle 106 and a grip handle 108, but such configuration is not required or limiting as any number and type of handle can extend from the brush head 102 to allow movement and pressure to be applied to the assorted bristles 122 to clean, and remove debris from, a surface 124 to be cleaned.

While a single side of a brush head 102 can be constructed with bristles 122, such arrangement is not exclusive and the brush head 102 can operate without bristles 122 or with separate bristles 126, which can provide redundant, or different cleaning capabilities, such as density, material, length, and liquid absorbability that contribute to how debris and/or contaminants are removed from the surface 124. The various bristles 122/126 construction and position on the brush head 102 can efficiently clear debris and remove contaminants from a surface 124 when the bristles are new and unaltered. However, use of the bristles 122/126 can result in altered states where contaminants and/or debris remain and change the cleaning characteristics of the brush 120. For instance, remaining contaminants and/or debris can cause the bristles 122/126 to be more rigid and/or more dense, which applies greater force and pressure onto the surface and risks damaging the surface 124 to be cleaned. Such altered state can further force unwanted debris into contact with the surface, which increases the chance of damage to the surface 124.

Although a cover 128 may be positioned between the bristles 122/126 and the surface 124 to be cleaned, a rudimentary cover 128, as shown in FIG. 2 , is difficult to use to effectively clean the surface 124 due at least to not staying in place when wet, not staying in place in response to movement and pressure onto the surface 124, getting dirty rather quickly, and trapping debris close to the surface 124. As a result, all known brush covers 128 lack the ability to stay in place during use pose potentially harmful operational disadvantages. Accordingly, various embodiments are directed to a brush head cover that can be reliably secured to a brush, retained in a desired position relative to bristles or a brush head during cleaning operations, and selectively removable to allow for cover cleaning to regain original cleaning characteristics.

FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively depict portions of an example brush cover system 150 arranged in accordance with various embodiments. The system 150 can employ one or more head covers 152 that partially, or completely, surround a brush head 102 and connect to one or more head handles via an attachment means 154. Upon a user manipulating the attachment means 154 to securely affix the cover 152 to the brush head 102 and handle 106/108 a cleaning region 156 is securely positioned relative to the underlying brush head and any bristles so that force and movement applied by a handle 106/108 acts to interact the material of the cleaning region 156 with a surface 154 to be cleaned.

The cleaning region 156 is not limited to a particular size, shape, or material configuration and, in some embodiments, has multiple sections that are constructed with redundant, or dissimilar, cleaning characteristics. For example, a first section 158 of the cleaning region 156 can be made of a terrycloth, microfiber, foam, woven cotton, polyester-blend, or other fabric while the second section 160 is constructed of a chamois or other highly absorbent material. It is contemplated that the respective sections 158/160 have different debris trapping capabilities corresponding with different strand length, density, and/or material. The ability to configure the respective sections 158/160 differently allows a user to efficiently clean a surface with less movement of the brush 150 by concurrently utilizing the different cleaning capabilities of the materials, and configuration, of the respective sections 158/160.

Some embodiments arrange the cleaning region 156 to be removable from the cover 152, which provides modularity for a user to change the type, size, and number of sections 158/160 present to clean a surface. As an example, a user may utilize an efficient debris trapping first region 156 that employs a single material and configuration before swapping to a contaminant film cleaning region 156 that employs multiple different materials and configurations. By providing modularity to the cover 152 via one or more region connection points, such as with magnets, hook-and-loop, buttons, snaps, springs, or clips, the cover 152 can enjoy greater diversity of cleaning capabilities and increased efficiency for translating a dirty surface to clean surface. It is noted that the modularity of the region 156 can complement separate cleaning regions that are positioned on other aspects of the brush head 102 than aligned with the friction surface.

In the side view illustration of the brush 150 in FIG. 3B, the cover 152 extends around the brush head to attach to the broomstick handle 106 via the attachment means 154. The cover 152 fits around the brush head to present a first cleaning section 156 on a first side and a second cleaning section 162 on a second side of the brush head. It is contemplated that the sections 156/162 are on opposite sides of the brush head, but such configuration is not required as the respective sections 156/162 can be on a single side of the brush head or continuously extend to multiple different sides. Some embodiments arrange the sections 156/162 in contact with one another while other embodiments separate the sections 156/162 as long as at least one section is aligned with a friction surface of the brush head that is positioned opposite the handle 106.

Regardless where the respective cleaning sections 156/162 are located on the cover and in relation to the underlying brush head, the sections 156/162 can be similarly, or dissimilarly, arranged to provide redundant, or diverse, cleaning capabilities and performance. As a non-limiting example, the first cleaning section 156, as shown in FIG. 3A, can consist of multiple, horizontally aligned regions that can have matching, or different material constructions while the second cleaning section 162 consists of vertically aligned regions 164/166/168, as shown in FIG. 3B, that are constructed of matching, or different, materials. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, a first vertical region 164 has a greatest thickness 170 from the cover 152 and brush head while the second region 166 has a smaller thickness and the third region 168 has the smallest thickness.

The ability to configure the respective cleaning regions 164/166/168 with different thicknesses, materials, and cleaning capabilities provides the cover, and brush, with cleaning performance that is conducive to many different surface textures, roughness, and materials to be cleaned and a diverse variety of contaminates to be removed from the surfaces. The use of different thicknesses, and potentially different materials, for the respective regions 164/166/168 can provide an optimized balance of debris removal, contaminant removal, and moisture wicking that allows the brush 150 to clean a surface with maximum efficiency and minimal effort.

FIG. 4 depicts portions of an example attachment means 170 that can be incorporated into a brush head cover system in accordance with assorted embodiments. The attachment means 170 can be separate from, or integrated into, a cover 152 and attach to a handle, such as a broomstick 106 or grip handle 108, to retain the cover 152 in place during cleaning operations, despite being wet, encountering transverse friction, and containing debris. It is noted that the attachment means 170 can consist of a sleeve that completely surrounds a handle, but such configuration is not required as individual attachment mechanisms can be employed with a sleeve that surrounds less than all of a handle or without a sleeve at all.

While not required or limiting, an attachment means 170 can employ one or more connections that continuously apply circumferential force onto the handle 106. For instance, a first mechanism 172 may be a belt-type connection that employs holes, grooves, or tabs to restrict opening, once closed. A second mechanism 174 may be a simple cord, rope, string, or other filament that is tied, cinched, or otherwise constricted at a union. A third mechanism 176 may utilize hook-and-loop connections while a fourth mechanism 178 has a keyed protrusion interacting with a keyed recess. It is contemplated that the attachment means 170 can employ multiple different types of mechanisms 172/174/176/178 individually or in combination to ensure a reliable, secure attachment between the cover 152 and the handle 106.

Some embodiments configure the attachment means 170 with one or more elongating mechanisms that continuously apply force longitudinally along the handle 106, away from the brush head, as illustrated by arrow 180. Such an elongating mechanisms may consist of semi-rigid, elastic, spring, or magnetic materials that act to apply force 180 that maintains the attachment means 170 in place, despite cleaning operations, moisture, and friction encountered by the cover 152. The combination of continuous circumferential force from one or more mechanisms 172/174/176/178 along with longitudinal force from one or more elongating mechanisms provides ample securement of the cover relative to the handle 106, which corresponds with optimal cover 152 position during use. Meanwhile, the ability to undo the attachment mechanisms allows the cover to be repositioned, or removed, if desired. For instance, a user can detach an attachment mechanism to move a second cleaning region 162 in contact with a friction surface of the brush head before securing the means 170 back again.

FIG. 5 depicts portions of an example brush head cover system 190 operated in accordance with some embodiments. The side view illustration of FIG. 5 conveys how a brush head 102 can be enclosed by a single cover 152 that continuously extends around a plurality of bristles 122 to a broomstick handle 106. As shown, the cover is secured to the handle 106 via an attachment means 154, which can be any number and type of connections that provide continuous circumferential pressure onto the cover towards the handle 106. The cover 152 is also secured to a friction surface 192 of the brush head via one or more alignment features 194 that act to retain position of a cleaning surface 196 of the cover 152 in place during cleaning operations and after becoming wet.

The alignment features 194 are not limited to a particular position, material, type of fastener, or number and can be any means for securing the cover to the friction surface 192 of the brush head 102 from outside the cover 152, as displayed. That is, the alignment feature(s) 194 can utilize magnets, snaps, buttons, elastic, rubber, or any other material to attach and secure the cover 152 in place relative to the head 102 without extending through the cover 152, which prevents growth of holes in the cover 152 over time from use and washing. A non-limiting example of an alignment feature 194 is a magnet or spring-loaded clip that interact with the friction surface 192 of the head 102 without puncturing or extending through the cover 152 while preventing movement of the cover 152 until the alignment feature(s) 194 are removed.

In some embodiments, the alignment features 194 are configured to operate concurrently, and complementary to, the fastening connection(s) of the attachment means 154 by continuously applying force in parallel directions onto the cover 152. For instance, the attachment means 154 can continuously apply force along the longitudinal axis of the handle 106 while the alignment feature(s) 194 continuously apply force onto the friction surface 196 in the same direction. As a result of such parallel application of force, the cover 152 can be kept taut during cleaning operations, which prevents bunching, inefficient cleaning performance, and collection of debris in the cover 152.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example cleaning routine 200 that can be carried out with the assorted embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 to provide efficient, optimized utilization of a brush head that does, or does not, employ bristles. A cover is physically positioned proximal a brush head in step 202, which allows a user to manually wrap the cover around portions of the brush head in step 204 so that a cleaning section of the cover is aligned with a friction surface of the brush head. It is noted that the cover is not required to enclose the entirety of the brush head as some aspects of a brush head can be exposed while the cleaning portions of the cover and the friction surface of the head are aligned. However, other embodiments do fully enclose the brush head with the cover in step 204 so that no aspect of the brush head is exposed.

Step 206 utilizes one or more alignment features to align and secure the cleaning section of the cover relative to the friction surface of the brush head. For instance, one or more fasteners and/or connections can be physically attached from the outside of the cover to the brush head, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , to restrict movement of the cleaning section of the cover to a location atop the friction surface and/or bristles of the brush head. It is contemplated that the cover is employed for cleaning operations after steps 204 or 206 via the manual holding of the cover in place while the cleaning portions of the cover physically interact with a surface to be cleaned. Alternatively, a user can proceed to attach the cover to portions of the brush to allow for cover retention during cleaning operations without manual holding of the cover.

Accordingly, the cover is securely attached to the brush in step 208 by manipulating one or securing mechanisms, such as a fastener, tie, magnetic union, or other connection that continuously applies pressure to hold the cover onto a portion of the brush, like a broomstick handle, back of the brush head, or grip handle. Various embodiments utilize the cover to engage and clean one or more surfaces after step 208 with movement and application of force onto the brush head via one or more handles. Decision 210 evaluates if one or more cleaners are to be applied onto the cover. If so, step 212 applies at least one cleaner to the brush head and/or cover. Some embodiments position a cleaner deployment means, such as a reservoir or tube, into the brush head to automatically deliver cleaner(s) to the brush head/over at will while other embodiments manually apply cleaner(s) to the cleaning section of the cover.

With cleaner(s) applied to the brush head cover, or if no cleaners are to be utilized from decision 210, step 214 proceeds to physically contact the cover with a surface to be cleaned. Step 214 can be employed for any amount of time and for any number of surfaces before the cleaning section of the cover is soiled. Although not required, it is contemplated that the execution of step 214 makes the cover no longer safe to clean a surface without temporary or permanent damage to the surface. It is noted that different cleaners may be applied to the cover by revisiting step 212 during the execution of step 214. During the surface cleaning of step 214, various embodiments can manipulate and/or alter one or more cover attachment means to customize how the cover is attached and secured to the brush head and/or handle. For instance, a user can increase the force applied onto a handle and/or away from the brush head after the cover becomes wet to aid the alignment feature(s) in maintaining the cleaning sections of the cover in alignment and position with the friction surface of the brush head.

Once the cover becomes soiled, or is no longer in use, step 216 can manipulate the attachment means and alignment features of the cover to detach the cover from the brush head and handle. Separation of the cover from the brush allows the cover to be individually cleaned in step 218, such as manually by hand or automatically by machine. It is contemplated that the attachment means and alignment features can be disconnected from the cover so that step 216 only cleans the material of the cover. Embodiments of step 218 can physically disconnect a cleaning section of the cover from the rest of the cover to allow the cleaning section alone to be washed. In other embodiments, step 218 washes an entire cover with attachment means and alignment features involved without degrading the function, lifespan, or effectiveness of the respective attachment and alignment aspects.

Completion of step 218 results in a substantially clean cover, which allows for routine 200 to cycle by returning to step 202 where the cover is connected to a brush head for further cleaning operations. The ability to remove and clean the cover allows the brush head cover system to have an extended lifespan and continued safe operation over time compared to covers and contraptions that are one-time use or are not conducive to removal, cleaning, and subsequent use. As an example, a cover utilizing non-washable materials or materials that degrade after initial cleaning use cannot be effectively recycled with minimal change in cleaning capabilities and performance. Similarly, covers that do not employ sophisticated attachment and alignment aspects can experience degraded retention and cleaning performance over time, even if the material is conducive to washing and recycled use.

Through the assorted embodiments of a brush head cover system, a cleaning brush head can be supplemented with a cover that can be washed and recycled without degraded cleaning performance or surface safety. The use of attachment and alignment means allows the cover to stay in place, relative to a brush head friction surface, during cleaning of various surfaces in a diverse variety of positions relative to a user. The ability to manipulate and customize how the cover is connected to the brush head allows a user to manipulate the cleaning characteristics of the cover to accommodate different surfaces to be cleaned. By configuring a cover with multiple different cleaning sections, a cover can provide a range of cleaning capabilities that allows the cover to effectively, and safely, clean many different surfaces without having to change or remove the cover. As a result, a single cover can provide an optimized cleaning experience for a user. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: cleaning a surface with a cleaning feature extending from a rigid body; positioning a cover proximal the rigid body to surround a portion of the rigid body; attaching the cover to a handle with at least one attachment mechanism, the handle continuously extending from the rigid body; cleaning the surface with a first cleaning region of the cover; and cleaning the surface with a second cleaning region of the cover, the first cleaning region configured differently than the second cleaning region.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detaching the cover from the handle and rigid body prior to replacing the cover.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cover is replaced onto the rigid body in a different position.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the cover is replaced with a different cover.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism applies continuous pressure on the cover and handle to retain the cover in place while cleaning the surface.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover is secured in place on the rigid body with at least one alignment feature that continuously applies pressure onto a friction surface of the rigid body to maintain the cleaning regions in place relative to the friction surface while cleaning the surface.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one alignment feature is detached from the rigid body prior to moving the cover relative to the friction surface and reattaching the at least one alignment feature to secure the second cleaning region in place relative to the friction surface.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning feature is contaminated while the first cleaning region is used to clean the surface.
 9. An apparatus comprising: a rigid body connected to a handle; and a cover surrounding a portion of the rigid body, the cover comprising a first cleaning region and a second cleaning region, the first cleaning region comprising a different material than the second cleaning region.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a plurality of bristles extend from the rigid body.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one cleaning region is positioned atop the plurality of bristles.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one cleaning region is retained in position atop the plurality of bristles by at least one alignment feature.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one alignment feature is configured to continuously apply force onto the rigid body to wrap the cover around the plurality of bristles.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cover reveals portion of the plurality of bristles.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover is attached to the handle via a fastener.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the handle is a broomstick.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover completely surrounds the rigid body.
 18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first cleaning region is positioned on an opposite side of the cover than the first cleaning region.
 19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first cleaning region has a greater thickness than the second cleaning region, the thickness measured from the rigid body.
 20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first cleaning region contacts the second cleaning region. 